Apparatus for regulating the delivery of drinking-cups.



H. B. COOLEY.

APPARATUS'FOR REGULAIING THE DELIVERY OF DRINKING CUPS.

APPLICATION HLED OCT. 13, 1915. 1,217,109. Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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H. B. COOLEY.

APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE DELIVERY OF DRINKING CUPS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-13,1915.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

l llll NVEAATUR;

AMA;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY B. COOLEY OF KENSINGTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN PAPER GOODS COMPANY, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

Original application filed May 6, 1914, Serial No. 836,676. Divided and this application filed October 13,

paratus within which drinking cups or like devices are temporarily placed, and from which they may be obtained when required for use, and an object of my invention, among others, is to provide a device of this class that is extremely simple in its construction and tion.

One form of apparatus embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention, with parts broken away to show construction, the mechanism being shown in position to release a cup for delivery to the user.

Fig. 2 is a view in section through the case and the coin chute, illustrating the mechanism in side elevation and with the parts in their normal position of rest, the point of view being on the opposite side of the apparatus from the point of View of Fig. l. l h

Fig. 3 is a View in section through the apparatus on plane denoted by the broken line in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a portion of the apparatus showing the position to which the partshave been moved when the coin is at the outlet end of the coin chute, the mechanism being viewed in side elevation.

F'g. 5 is a detail front view showing a portion of the parts in the same position as illustrated in Fig; 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the position of the cup feeding detents at the time of release of a cup therefrom.

particularly efiicient in its opera- Serial No. 55,611.

cated, is secured to the back plate 8 in any suitable manner, the shelf 9 forming the top of this inclosure. A neck 12 rises from the top plate that has an opening 11 therein, said neck having a shoulder 13 that receives the lower edge of a dome 14, formed of glass or other suitable material, within which the cups are stacked or nested, the lower end of the stack projecting through the neck and into the inclosure within the case.

A base 15 of theneck has housings 16 on opposite sides within which cup feeding detents 17 are rotatably mounted in bearings 18, each detent having a releasing dog 19 and a detaining dog 20, preferably rigidly fixed with respect to each other and projecting from the body of the detent. The shaft 22 of each detent (there being a detent at each side of the stack of cups) has a tail 23 projecting from within the housing through the shelf 9 into the inclosure within the case, a spring24 secured to and extending between the tails, holding them and the releasing and detaining dogs in their normal positions and at rest.

A coin slot 25 isformed through the shelf 9, a coin chute 26 extending from said slot downwardly and toward the back plate. A trip lever 27 is secured to a trip lever shaft 21 mounted in brackets 28 and 61 projecting from the back plate. A finger 29 projects from the lever at one side of the apparatus into the coin chute, and a foot 30 extends from said lever in position to strike a catch lever 31 hereinafter to be described. It will be understood that the lever 27, specifically described as located at a certain side of astack of cups, and its attached parts, as Well as parts connected to an actuating shaft 32 to be now described, are

duplicated on the opposite side of said stack, and the following description when applying to the members composing one part only of a cup delivery mechanism will be understood as applying equally to the other, it being further understood that either or both of these mechanisms may be employed as desired, one of the mechanisms on one side only of the stack of cups in many instances serving the purpose fully.

The finger 29 rests normally in the path of movement of a coin or likedevice in the coin slot, said finger requiring to be pushed.

aside by the coin before the latter may pass along the chute, a spring 57 holding the lever with the finger in the position described.

lhe actuating shaft .32. is rotatably mounted in bearings 33 within the inclosure, a handle 34 secured to the shaft outside of the case serving as a means for rotating said shaft in one direction, and a spring 35, preferably coiled about, the shaft, rotating it in the opposite direction.

Arms 36 are secured to the shaft and pro of the arms 36. The grip finger holding catch levers 31 are pivotally .mounted on the arms 36, and their lower ends are formed into catches 45 to engage the lower edges of the grip fingers, the upper end of each catch lever constituting a nose 58 located in the path of movement of the foot 30 on the trip lever 27, and a projection 46 from each catch lever receiving one end of a spring 47, by means of which the catch lever is held in position to engage and hold the grip finger.

A controller 48, secured, to the shaft 32, has a shoulder. 49 to be engaged by a controller detent 50 located at one end of a detent lever 53 pivotally supported on the bracket 28, said lever having a coin releas ing end 52 to temporarily retain a coin, a coin release 51, in the form of a projection or tooth from the controller 48, engaging an end of the lever and moving it to release the coin and permit it to fall.

Guides 5455 are secured to the case and back plate to direct movement of the cups as they are passed downwardly by the mechanism, in the operation of which, a coin 56 is placed in the coin slot 25 against the finger 29, that, by pressure upon the coin is pushed downwardly moving the trip levers 2? on their pivots and carrying the feet 30 into contact with the noses 58 on.

end of the finger and along the coin chute,

and rests at the outlet end thereof upon the coin releasin end 52 of the detent lever 53, the weight of the coin moving the lever to disengage the detent 50 from the shoulder 49, the coin being temporarily held in this position with the detent disengaged from said shoulder.

The shaft 32 is now free to be rotated as by means of the handle 34, which rotation carries the arms 36 downward, and with them the grip fingers 39, which hold the bottom cup'of the stack, and said cup, is, therefore, separated from the stack and carried downward. In this downward swinging movement of the arms 36 the ends 43 of the gripping fingers engage releasing arms 59 projecting from the back plate, said arms moving the fingers on their pivots and releasing them from grip on the cup. The continued swinging movement of the arms causes them to pass from underneath the cup, and the latter, directed by the guides 54 and 55, falls through the delivery opening 60 in the bottom of the case 10. Contact of the ends 43 of the fingers with the arms 59 moves said fingers into position to permit the catches 45 to re'ngage them and hold them in this position, the ends- 43 being now so located that they will freely pass the arms 59 as the mechanism returns to its normal position.

In the rotation of the shaft 32 the coin release 51 on the controller engages the detent 50, swinging the detent lever to an extent to release the coin and permit it to drop out of the outlet end of the chute 26, and into a proper receptacle provided for it, the controller being reduced as at 37 to permit passageof the coin between it and the back plate.

19 the detents move upwardly under the pull of the spring -24, andesnap past the lip of the cup underneath which they have been engaged, and the new bottom cup moves downwardly and rests upon the dogs 19.

lVhile I have shown and described herein a satisfactory construction of mechanism for carrying my invention into effect it will be understood that this may be departed from to a greater or lesser degree and yet be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

I claim 1. A cup delivering apparatus including a movably mounted member with means for operating it, an arm secured to said member, a grip finger pivotally mounted on said arm, means for moving said finger inone direction to grasp the lower edge of the bottom cup in the stack, means for moving said finger to release the cup, means for holding the finger in its releasing position, and means for supporting the stack of cups while the bottom cup is being removed therefrom.

2. A cup delivering apparatus including a movably mounted member with means for operating it, an arm secured to said member,

a finger pivotally mounted in said arm to grip the lower edge of the bottom cup in a stack, means for forcing the finger in one direction togrip a cup, means for moving it in the opposite direction to release the cup, means for holding it in its releasing position, and means for disengaging said holding means.

3. A cupdelivering apparatus including a movably mounted member with means for operating it, an arm secured to said memher, a finger pivotally mounted in said arm to grip the lower edge of the bottom cup in a stack, a spring connected with the finger to hold it in gripped engagemen with said cup, means for moving the finge in the opposite direction against the force of the spring to release the cup, means for holding the finger in its released position, and means for disengaging said holding means from said finger.

4. A cup delivering apparatus including a movably mounted member with means for operating it, an arm projecting from said member, a grip finger pivotally mounted on said arm to grasp the lower edge of the bottom cup in a stack, means to move said finger in one direction to grip said cup, means to move said finger in the opposite direction to release the cup, means for-holding the finger in one of said positions, and an arm located in the path of movement of said finger to move it in one of said directions.

5. A cup delivering apparatus including a movably mounted member, an arm projecting from said member, a finger pivotally of said finger to move it against the force of said spring.

6. A cup delivering apparatus including an arm, a finger pivotally mounted on said arm, a spring to move said finger to grip the bottom edge of the bottom cup in a stack, an arm located in the path of movement of said finger to release it from gripping engagement with said cup, a latch to hold said finger in'its released position, and means for operating the latch.

7 A cup delivering apparatus including an actuating shaft with means for rotating it, an arm projecting from said shaft, a rest for a stack ofcups upon said arm, said rest being positioned to be moved out from underneath said stack as the arm is moved in the rotation of the shaft, a. gripping finger pivotally mounted on said arm to grasp the bottom edge of the lowermost cup in said.

stack, means for forcing the finger in one direction to grip said cup, means for mov- .the bottom edgeof the lowermost cup in a stack, a spring to force said finger into gripping engagement with the cup, means for moving the finger in the opposite direction to release the cup, means for holding said finger in its, released position, and means for operating said holding means.

9. A cup delivering apparatus including a movably mounted member with means for operating it, an arm projecting from said member, a finger pivotally mounted on said arm to grip the bottom edge of the l0wermost cup in the stack, a spring to hold said finger in gripped engagement with said cup, means for moving said finger in opposition to said spring to release it from engagement with the cup, a latch mounted on the arm to hold said finger in its released position,

and means for actuating said latch.

10. A cup delivering apparatus including cluding a movably mounted member located to be moved by a coin in its passage into a coin chute.

11. A cup delivering apparatus including a gripping member for gripping the bottom edge of the lowermost cup in a stack, mechanism for moving the gripping member to withdraw the bottom cup from the stack, and means for controlling the operation of the gripping member for gripping action, said means including a movably mounted member disconnected from other members and located to be moved by a coin in its passage into a coin chute.

12. A cup delivering apparatus including a gripping member for gripping the bottom edge of the'lowermostcup in a stack,-

means for moving the gripping member to withdraw the bottom cup from the stack, means for controlling the operation of the gripping member for gripping action and including a pivotally mounted member, and a finger projecting from said pivotally mounted member into the path of movement of a coin in a coin chute.

13; A cup delivering apparatus including a member to engage the lowermost cup in a stack, mechanism for controlling the operation .of said member, a movably mounted supporting member for a part of said mechanism and engaging member, said mechanism also including a member pivotally mounted on-a stationary support and located for operation by the movement of a coin into a coin chute.

14. A cup delivering apparatus including a member to engage the lowermost cup of a stack, mechanism for controlling the operation of said member and including a latch to hold said member in one position, a movably mounted supporting member for a part of said mechanism and said member, said mechanism also including a member movably mounted on a stationary part and having a part projecting into the path of movement of a coin into a coin chute, and to be actuated thereby.

15. A cup delivering apparatus including a member for engaging the lowermost cup of a stack, mechanism for controlling the operation of said member and including a latch for engaging the member for holding it in one position, and means for forcing said member to another positiomall mounted on a movable supporting member, said mechanism also including an arm located in the path of movement of said latch, and a coin actuated member movably mounted on a stationary support and projecting into the path of movement ot a coin in a coin chute, said coin actuated member being positioned to engage said latch to operate it.

16. A cup delivering appalatus including a member movably mounted and a relatively stationary member to grip the botnainioe tom edge of the lowermost cup in a stack, means for moving the gripping member against said stationary member to grip a cup, withdrawing mechanism for moving the gripping member to withdraw the bottom cup from the stack, and coin operated means for controlling said withdrawing mechanism.

17. A cup delivering apparatus including a member movably mounted and a relatively stationary member to grip the bottom edge of the lowermost cup in'a stack, means for operating the gripping member to grip said cup, withdrawing means to move said grip-' ping member to remove the bottom cup from said stack, said withdrawing mechanism including a controller, and a coin operated lever to hold the controller against movement and to release it for movement.

18. A cup delivering apparatus including a member movably mounted and a relatively stationary member to grip the bottom edge of the lowermost cup of a stack, means for operating the gripping member to grip said cup, a shaft having an arm upon which said gripping member is mounted, a controller secured to said shaft, and a coin actuated controller detent mounted to engage said controller.

19. A cup delivering apparatus including a shaft, an arm projecting from the shaft, gripping mechanism supported on said arm and .including a member to engage the lowermost cup in a stack, a controller secured to said shaft, and a controller detent pivotally mounted with one end to engage said controller and the opposite end located in the path of movement of a coin in a coin chute.

20. A cup delivering apparatus including a shaft, an arm projecting from the shaft, cup removing apparatus including a member to engage the lowermost cup in a stack, a controller secured to said shaft and having a shoulder and a coin release, and a controller detent pivotally mounted, one end to engage said shoulder and to be engaged by said coin release, said lever being located in the path of movement of a coin in a coin chute.

21. A cup delivering apparatus including a member movably mounted and a relatively stationary member to grip the bottom edge of-the lowermost cup in a stack, means for operating said gripping member to withdraw the bottom cup from the stack, gripping member operating means including a movably mounted coin actuated device, and coin operated means for controlling the gripping member operating means.

22. A cup delivering apparatus including a member for gripping the bottom edge of the lowermost cup in a stack, means for operating the gripping member to withdraw the bottom cup from the stack, a coin chute,

' movement said gripping memberoperating means including a device movably mounted in the path of a coin in the coin chute,.and a member located in the'path of movement of said coin and actuated thereby to control the qt said gripping member operating means. V

23. A cup delivering apparatus including a member for gripping the bottom edge of the lowermost cup in a stack, means for .operating the gripping member to withdraw the bottom cup from the stack, gripping member operating means including a movably mounted coin actuated device, a controlling member supported in the path of movement of a coin into the apparatus to control the gripping member operating means, and means for actuating said controlling member to release the coin.

24. A cup delivering apparatus including a movably mounted arm, means for operating it, a support secured to said arm, a grip finger pivotally mounted on said arm, means for moving said finger in one direction to grasp the'lower edge of the bottom cup in a stack, means for moving said finger to release the cup, means for holding the finger in its releasing position, and means for supporting the stack of cups while the bottom cup is being removed therefrom.

25. A cup delivering apparatus including a movably mounted arm, means for operating it, a support secured to said arm, a finger pivotally mounted on said arm to grip the lower edge of the bottom cup in a stack, means for forcing the finger in one direction to grip a cup, means for moving it in the opposite direction to release the cup, means for holding it in its releasing position, and means for disengaging said holding means.

26. A cup delivering apparatus including a movably mounted arm, means for operating it, a support secured to said arm, afinger pivotally mounted on'said support to grip the lower edge of the bottom cup in a stack, a spring connected with the finger to hold it in gripped engagement with said cup, means for moving the finger in the opposite direction against the force of the spring to release the cup, means for holding the finger in its released position, and means for disengaging said holdin means from said finger.

27. A cup de ivering apparatus including a movably mounted arm with means for operating it, a support secured to said arm, a grip finger pivotally mounted on said arm to grasp the lower edge of the bottom cup in a stack, means to move said finger in one direction to grip said cup, means to move said finger in the opposite direction to release the cup, means for holding the finger in one of said positions, and an arm locatedv in the path of movement of said finger to,

move it in one of said directions.

28. A cup delivering apparatus including a movably mounted arm with means 'for operating it, a support secured to said arm, a finger pivotally mounted on said arm to grip the bottom edge of the bottom cup in a stack, a spring for forcing said finger in one direction, means for holding the finger in opposition to the force of said spring, means for releasing the finger from said holding means, and an arm located in the path of movement of said finger to move it against the force of said spring.

29. A cup delivering apparatus including a movably mounted arm with means for operating it, a support secured to said arm, a finger pivotally mounted on said arm to grip the bottom edge of the lowermost cup in a stack, a spring to hold said finger in gripped engagement with said cup, means for moving said finger in opposition to said spring to release it from engagement with the cup, a latch mounted on the arm to hold said finger in its released position, and means for actuating said latch.

HENRY B. COOLEY. Witnesses:

W. A. RICE, OSCAR EDGERLY. 

